Smart Grids Roadmap - Smart Grid Sherpa

Table 3 highlights a number of hardware andsystems and software associated with eachtechnology area.Within the smart grid technology landscape, abroad range of hardware, software, applicationand communication technologies are at variouslevels of maturity. Some technologies have proventhemselves over time, but many – even if mature– have yet to be demonstrated or deployed on alarge scale. Existing projects give an indicationof the maturity levels and development trends ofsmart grid technologies (Table 4).Table 4. Maturity levels and development trends of smart grid technologiesTechnology area Maturity level Development trendWide-area monitoring and control Developing FastInformation and communications technology integration MatureFastRenewable and distributed generation integration* Developing FastTransmission enhancement applications** Mature ModerateDistribution management Developing ModerateAdvanced metering infrastructure Mature FastElectric vehicle charging infrastructure Developing FastCustomer-side systems Developing Fast* Battery storage technologies are less mature than other distributed energy technologies.** High Temperature Superconducting technology is still in the developing stage of maturity.Smart grid demonstrationand deployment effortsThere has been a marked acceleration in thedeployment of smart grid pilot and demonstrationprojects globally, due in part to the recentgovernment stimulus investment initiatives in2009 and 2010 (Table 5). Investments around theworld have enabled hundreds of projects entirelyor partly focused on smart grid technologies; theabove table provides only a small sample.Most current smart grid pilot projects focuson network enhancement efforts such as localbalancing, demand-side management (throughsmart meters) and distributed generation.Demonstration projects have so far beenundertaken on a restricted scale and have beenhindered by limited customer participation anda lack of a credible aggregator business model.Data (and security) challenges are likely to increaseas existing pilots expand to larger-scale projects.Non-network solutions such as ICTs are beingused in a growing number of smart grid projects,bringing a greater dependence on IT and datamanagement systems to enable network operation(Boots et al., 2010).these issues. The project installed 33 million smartmeters (including system hardware and softwarearchitecture) and automated 100 000 distributionsubstations, while also improving managementof the operating workforce and optimising assetmanagement policies and network investments.The project has resulted in fewer serviceinterruptions, and its EUR 2.1 billion investmenthas led to actual cost savings of more than EUR 500million per year. ENEL is continually enhancing thesystem by introducing new features, technologiesand flexibility. The project clearly demonstrates thevalue of a large-scale, integrated deployment ofsmart grid technologies to solve existing problemsand plan for future needs.Although significant effort and financial resourcesare already being invested in smart grids, the scaleof demonstration and deployment co-ordinationneeds to be increased. Several organisations havecreated, are creating or are calling for the creationof an inventory or database of detailed case studiesto gather the lessons learned from such projects,particularly in the areas of policy, standardsand regulation, finance and business models,technology development, consumer engagementand workforce training. 14The Telegestore project, launched in 2001 byENEL Distribuzione S.p.A. (i.e. prior to the currentsmart grids stimulus funding) addresses many of14 These include the international Smart Grid Action Network, Asia-Pacific Economic co-operation, European Union Set Plan, as wellas a number of national initiatives.20 Technology Roadmaps Smart grids© OECD/IEA, 2010